New neck with roller nut
 

Just picked up an American Fender Deluxe neck with a roller nut for Free!- from a friend. Some one hacked off the string bar that was on top. Should I replace with bone nut or leave as is? needs a string tree for sure now-- how do I install that without chipping the finish? right now its buzzing at the nut, on the back the old tuner holes need to be filled too---my lucky day, she looks great now

https://i.imgur.com/R2MldAWl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/foo9dBEl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/e0nsHfAl.jpg

American Strat for free? Wow score! Guitar is sweet and the Work that it needs is minimal.

Just the neck was free, the body is an Affinity Squire that I gutted and replaced all the electronics with American parts including Rose pickups that were recommended on this site. I plays like a dream but open strings buzz in that roller nut but I cant complain, I am pretty jazzed about the whole thang.

I'm not seeing anything missing on that roller nut, which resembles the one on my Strat Plus.
I wonder if it isn't strung properly. The strings should be exiting the roller nut under the roller on the tuning machine side...
Is it the roller that is missing?

I see the strings are wound like a Les Paul would be done with the excess going up the post. I bet if you put the extra windings under toward the bottom of the post, that would fix your problem by providing the downward tension over the nut. If I'm wrong, then roller string trees as you mention, would be in order. I'd tape the area, pre-drill the holes with a bit slightly smaller than the screws, and not over-tighten the retaining screws. Not that bad to install.

If it didn't have string trees (and at least as first glance I don't see the holes) it may have had staggered tuning post machine heads, where the posts and their string holes are different heights so that string trees are not needed. As mentioned above, you can add the string trees easily if the tuners were swapped out.

I have used similar nuts, and they should work well, but yes, they need enough downward tension on the strings as they run over them, just like any other nut. I don't think you can drop in a regular nut as the width/location for the roller nut is slightly different. I don't think it's worth the trouble to swap it out with bone. It's an electric guitar, so the acoustic open string element is not a bit part of the tone.

the neck originally had locking tuners, my friend kept those, that would help with less winding. Don't think you can fit the strings under the roller, when I took it to my guitar shop the guy said someone hacked off the top but I cant find any pics of the added bar he is talking about. here is the top of the roller, the E string keeps popping out of its slot--

https://i.imgur.com/yxEkZ2al.jpg

That is a Wilkerson roller nut and the strings should go under the roller. Also that nut doesn't require or use a string tree. It looks just as it should in the picture. Appears to be a neck from a 90 Strat Plus. Also the original locking tuners were staggered and that helped hold the strings down. It the nut has been molested the best fix is to replace with a Fender LSR nut. I would not put a string tree on it. String it properly and you have a very nice find!-- Darwin

Deleted post

there is only one roller, I think someone hacked off the other roller, here is how it should look for a 1992 Strat Plus Wilkinson roller nut

https://i.imgur.com/ke7X0lIl.jpg

and mine
https://i.imgur.com/R2MldAWl.jpg?1

Looks like time for a Fender LSR. Pretty much a drop in replacement. -- Darwin

so the Wilkinson roller sucked? that's why someone hacked off the 2nd roller? seems to work just fine for me, stays in tune and is intonated, (I did add a string tree since I dont have the locking staggered tuners.) Really don't like the look of the Fender LSR nut, what ever that stands for...........but will think about it

If you want a usable guitar it is either a replacement Wilkinson which is fine but many were replaced by a Fender LSR. The LSR is much easier to string. I'm not even sure the Wilkerson is available anymore. Those are your choices as I see it if you want it to look good. -- Darwin